Sometimes, you just want a game that lets you do your own thing, and that’s where the sandbox gaming category comes in. Sandbox games give you the freedom to play your own way and at your own pace. No strict rules, no hand-holding – just creativity, chaos, and a lot of fun. Here are the 10 best sandbox games in 2025 to lose hours (or days) in.
The best sandbox games on PC can either make the combination of story and sandbox seamless or give you the tools to make your own story. It’s not enough just being able to do whatever you want; there must be a method to the madness. As such, we kick off our top sandbox games list with an old favourite – Garry’s Mod!
Image Source: Steam
Garry’s Mod isn’t just a game – it’s a giant physics playground where the only limit is your imagination (and maybe your computer’s ability to handle 50 exploding toilets at once). In this game, there’s no story, no objectives, and no “right” way to play. You can load it up and do whatever you want.
Spawn objects, build weird contraptions, create bizarre scenes, or dive into player-made game modes like Prop Hunt and Trouble in Terrorist Town. It’s like the ultimate sandbox for messing around, perfect for creative minds, meme lovers, and anyone who just wants to goof off with friends.
Price: $9.99
Genre: Sandbox, Physics Toybox. Multiplayer
Image Source: Steam
The Planet Crafter is like Subnautica meets Mars – but instead of diving into an ocean, you’re dropped on a lifeless planet with one goal: make it livable. Starting the game with barely enough oxygen to survive more than a few minutes, you’ll gradually mine, craft, and build your way toward turning a barren rock into a breathable paradise.
Set up solar panels, oxygen generators, and terraforming machines that turn the planet into something you can call home. Watching the planet evolve around you is one of the most satisfying feelings ever. It’s peaceful, methodical, and quietly addictive.
Price: $24.99
Genre: Sandbox, Terraforming, Survival Sim
Image Source: Steam
Starbound takes place in a two-dimensional, procedurally generated universe that mixes space exploration, pixel art, and a massive sandbox into one ridiculously open-ended adventure. You’ll start off stranded on a spaceship after your homeworld gets destroyed (no pressure, though), and from there, it’s entirely up to you where you go and what kind of spacefarer you want to be.
You can beam down to alien planets, mine rare resources, build a cosy home, or travel the stars. There’s combat, quests, farming, pets, and even full-on dungeons. Starbound features a charming art style and a “do-whatever-you-want” design, making it perfect for players who want a little story and an endless galaxy to call home.
Price: $14.99
Genre: Sandbox, Space Exploration, 2D Adventure
Image Source: Steam
Core Keeper is like getting lost in the cosiest underground cave system you’ve ever seen, except there are monsters, ancient ruins, and.. oh yeah, a mysterious core pulsing in the middle of it all. You and your friends will wake up in a dark underground world, and it’s up to you to explore, build a base, and figure out what the heck is going on down there.
In Core Keeper, you’ll dig through walls, plant crops, fight massive bosses, and automate your little underground empire. It’s a perfect game for a mix of chill and challenge, and it feels like you’re discovering a secret world that was waiting just for you.
Price: $19.99
Genre: Sandbox, Mining Adventure, Survival Crafting
Image Source: Steam
If you’ve ever wished for a game that mixes a classic Japanese RPG with the freedom of a sandbox, Dragon Quest Builders 2 delivers big time. You play as a builder in a world where building is actually illegal (yeah, it’s weird), and your job is to bring creativity back.
You’ll craft towns, farms, kitchens, and whatever else your imagination can dream up. All of this while battling slimes, skeletons, and — you guessed it — dragons. The story is surprisingly heartfelt, and your AI companion, Malroth, adds a fun (and sometimes chaotic) twist to the journey.
Price: $49.99
Genre: Sandbox, RPG, Creative Building
Image Source: Steam
If you love sandbox and some PvP action, Rust is what you’re looking for. This intense game hurls you into a brutal open world with nothing but a rock, torch, and the will to survive. Though it sounds pretty chill, just wait until some people raid your base at 3 in the morning. It’s a game where you gather resources, craft tools, and build a shelter, all while constantly looking over your shoulder.
What sets Rust apart from other games in this list is its wild multiplayer experience. You can find allies, form a class, and build a massive fortress together. Other times? You’ll get ambushed and lose everything because you trusted the wrong person.
Price: $39.99
Genre: Sandbox, Survival, Multiplayer PvP
Image Source: Steam
Terraria is what you’ll get if you mix Minecraft, a classic RPG, and a whole lot of chaos. In this charming 2D pixel art world, you’ll start with basic tools and a vague sense of direction, and the rest is entirely up to you. Do you want to build a cosy village or battle against monster creatures? Technically, you want to do both because you’ll keep unlocking new items, blocks, and far-away areas.
Underneath the cute look of Terraria is a massive world full of dangerous biomes, powerful loot, hidden secrets, and wild boss fights. This game is best enjoyed with friends, especially when someone accidentally summons a boss at the worst possible time (definitely not me).
Price: $9.99
Genre: Sandbox, 2D Adventure, Survival Crafting
Image Source: Steam
If you love oceans, Subnautica slams you headfirst into one of the most beautiful (and terrifying) underwater worlds in gaming. You’ve just crash-landed on an alien ocean planet, and the only goal is to survive. Explore colourful coral reefs, deep trenches, and pitch-black caves.
However, the game’s not only about survival. You can build bases, craft submarines, and go on exploration missions that will leave you in awe. The best part? You can build your dream underwater base and fill it with windows, plants, and all the things you can scavenge. It’s peaceful, until it’s not.
Price: $29.99
Genre: Sandbox, Survival, Underwater Exploration
Image Source: Steam
If Minecraft is about creativity, Satisfactory is about efficiency overload. This game puts you on an alien planet, and the goal is to build a megafactory. You’ll start with one miner and end with a web of conveyor belts, machines, pipes, and anything else you’d need.
Satisfactory is the ultimate playground for those who love automation and optimisation, which will lead to utmost satisfaction of watching things run perfectly – or hilariously not. Aside from working on the factory, you’ll also explore and run into landscapes and massive alien creatures. It’s more than just a factory sim – it’s a full-on engineering adventure.
Price: $39.99
Genre: Sandbox, Factory Builder, Automation
Image Source: Minecraft
If you’ve somehow managed to avoid Minecraft until now, consider this your official invitation to one of the most iconic sandbox games ever made. Minecraft drops you into a blocky world where you can pretty much do anything – build a house, explore caves, fight off monsters, or just vibe somewhere peaceful with your pet wolf.
This block game gives you total freedom to do whatever you want – all at your own pace. Whether you’re in it to make amazing builds or explore other worlds, it’s the kind of game that can be relaxing one moment and wildly adventurous the next – hands-down one of the best sandbox games ever created.
Price: $29.99
Genre: Sandbox, Survival, Creative Building
| Game | Rating | Release Date | Price | Developer | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garry's Mod | 8.3/10 | November 29th, 2006 | $5.99 | Facepunch Studios | Valve |
| The Planet Crafter | 8.6/10 | April 10th, 2024 | $23.99 | Miju Games | Miju Games |
| Starbound | 8.7/10 | July 22nd, 2016 | $14.99 | Chucklefish | Chucklefish |
| Core Keeper | 8.8/10 | August 27th, 2024 | $19.99 | Pugstorm | Fireshine Games |
| Dragon Quest Builders 2 | 9.0/10 | December 10th, 2019 | $24.99 | Square Enix, Koei Tecmo Games, Omega Force | Square Enix |
| Rust | 9.1/10 | February 8th, 2018 | $39.99 | Facepunch Studios | Facepunch Studios |
| Terraria | 9.3/10 | May 16th, 2011 | $9.99 | Re-Logic | 505 Games |
| Subnautica | 9.5/10 | January 23rd, 2018 | $29.99 | Unknown Worlds Entertainment | Unknown Worlds Entertainment |
| Satisfactory | 9.6/10 | September 10th, 2024 | $39.99 | Coffee Stain Studios | Coffee Stain Publishing |
| Minecraft | 9.9/10 | May 17th, 2009 | $29.99 | Mojang Studios | Mojang Studios |
What is your favourite sandbox game? Let us know in the comments below!
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